Your measurements?

[pooks]

Okay, so I tried to measure my sit bones.

I tried the lie-on-your-back-with-knees-raised method.

I tried the sit-on-firm-office-chair-on-piece-of-paper method.

NOTHING.

How embarrassing. So much padding, the bones don't leave an imprint?

Then I noticed what I'm wearing: My road shorts. PADDED road shorts.

Shut up.

I took them off and repeated both above methods.

Still no indentations.

Okay, now I'm REALLY embarrassed! LOL.

[morsecode]

Okay, so I tried to measure my sit bones.

I tried the lie-on-your-back-with-knees-raised method.

I tried the sit-on-firm-office-chair-on-piece-of-paper method.

NOTHING.

How embarrassing. So much padding, the bones don't leave an imprint?

Then I noticed what I'm wearing: My road shorts. PADDED road shorts.

Shut up.

I took them off and repeated both above methods.

Still no indentations.

Okay, now I'm REALLY embarrassed! LOL.

Feel free to ignore this suggestion, but it seemed to work for me...
do the chair method (I used a paper towel and a flat-seat wooden chair), but lift your legs up and engage your abs. You'll feel your bones on the chair and know you have an identation


Mind you, I still have no idea what saddle to go for

[Kitsune06]

I found it useful to rock back 'n forth a little...

Geez. My measurement's way bigger than I thought. No wonder my saddle hurts after a few miles- after taking the measurements and setting the measurin' sheet on the seat, all became clear. The 'peaks' of my sit-bones are half-straddling the seat. No wonder so much of my weight ends up being carried by my soft tissues and other bits. Ugh.

[DebW]

When I started riding 10-speeds in the early 70s there were only men's saddles, so I rode on them of course. Actually, there were some wide Brooks saddles I could have used if I wasn't afraid of looking like a dork (that was my loss). Around the late 70s, Avocet started making women's saddles. I got one and I still remember the first ride on that saddle. Previously I could ride only 15 miles before my crotch got so sore that I had to stand alot and perform other gyrations. With the new Avocet W-II Racing saddle, I rode 50 miles with my butt ON the saddle! It seemed like the most amazing thing at the time.

[Rebeccah]

With the new Avocet W-II Racing saddle, I rode 50 miles with my butt ON the saddle! It seemed like the most amazing thing at the time.

I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone"). The only time I'm more comfortable is if I go down on the drops, push way back on the seat, and pedal hard -- but then my "girlie bits" get squashed, and I can't keep it up 'cause my legs get tired.

I guess I either need to move the seat forward or get a different seat.

I haven't successfully measured my sit bones yet, but it's looking like the *comfortable* part of them is at least 6" apart.

Rebeccah

[DebW]

I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone").

I retired my Avocet W-II about 5 years ago. Like you said, the forward part of the saddle caused some discomfort since it is rounded and put the most pressure in the center of the pubic area. The W-II was an amazing saddle in it's day, but I've switched to one with a cutout. BTW, tried an Avocet O2 Air five years ago and hated it.

[CyclChyk]

ok so once you kinda get a feel of your measurements (how embarassing was that??? My hubby watching the whole time...... the perv)..... how do you determine what is the best size for a seat?? If its just trial and error why even measure at all??

[morsecode]

I found it useful to rock back 'n forth a little...

exactly!